NAID Certification AAA is an internationally recognised quality mark for secure destruction service providers. The acronym NAID stands for the National Association for Information Destruction, which sets the standards for what it means to be a NAID Certified Member. To become certified, service providers must meet rigorous operational and security requirements as laid out by the association.
| What is NAID? |
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| In 2018 International Secure Information Governance & Management Association(iSigma) was formed by the merger of NAID with the Professional Records and Information Services Management (PRISM), another leading organisation in the secure destruction industry. iSigma provides a single source of reliable information for those who need to find secure destruction providers they can trust. |
What are the features of NAID AAA certification?
The features of NAID AAA certification are:
- A commitment to the highest ethical standards in the industry
- Stringent security requirements for both on-site and off-site destruction operations
- Annual independent audits to verify compliance with these standards
- Verification of service provider compliance with all data protection regulations, fulfilling the client’s legal responsibility to do so
- Qualifies as the service provider Risk Assessment as required under the HIPAA Security Rule
- Qualifies as the required vendor selection due diligence required by all data protection regulations
- Meets requirements of GDPR
- Is required in order to obtain Downstream Data Coverage®, a professional liability policy honed specifically for data-related service providers
What are the benefits of NAID certification?
The benefits of working with a NAID certified member are many. First and foremost, you can be assured that the provider has met the highest standards for security and operational procedures. This gives you peace of mind that your data will be destroyed in a way that meets or exceeds all legal requirements.
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NAID certification also provides access to exclusive resources, such as the Downstream Data Coverage® insurance policy. This policy is designed specifically for service providers who handle sensitive data, and can provide an additional layer of protection for your business.
Finally, NAID certification is your assurance that the provider is committed to best practices in the industry and to keeping up with the latest changes in data protection regulations.
Why use a NAID certified member?
When it comes to choosing a secure destruction service provider, there are many factors to consider. But if you are handling sensitive data, you should only work with a provider that is certified by NAID.
Certified members are required to destroy data in a manner that protects the privacy of individuals, and they must also adhere to strict security protocols during the destruction process. This includes ensuring that all data is securely erased from storage devices before they are destroyed.
Service providers who are not NAID certified may still provide secure destruction services, but they are not held to the same standards as certified members. This means that there is a greater risk that data will not be properly erased from storage devices before they are destroyed.
Data breaches involving employee and customer information can have devastating consequences for businesses. In addition to the financial costs, such breaches can also damage a company’s reputation and lead to legal action. According to this report by IBM the average cost of a data breach is now over $4 million and the number of data breaches is on the rise.
Businesses need to be proactive in protecting their data, and one of the best ways to do this is to use a NAID certified member for secure destruction services.
What type of secure destruction operations does NAID cover?
NAID certification covers both on-site and off-site destruction operations. This means that you can choose the option that best suits your needs, whether it be having destruction take place at your own facility or at the provider’s secure location.
Here are the specific ways that NAID AAA certification affects document destruction.
| Hard copy material must be cross cut shredded, incinerated, or pulped before it can be considered truly destroyed. Certification program that audits and certifies shredding companies to verify they are following best practices for information destruction. |
| Documents scheduled to be destroyed must be stored in a locked, secured area to prevent unauthorised access. They are then transported in a locked, dedicated vehicle to the destruction site. |
| Electronic data must be rendered unrecoverable using a secure wipe standard accepted by relevant regulations. After the data has been destroyed, a Certificate of Destruction is issued to the customer. The certificate documents what was destroyed, when it was destroyed, and how it was destroyed. |
How companies get NAID certification
To become NAID certified, companies must pass a rigorous audit of their processes and procedures. The audit covers everything from employee screening and training to the destruction process itself.
Auditors also verify that the company has appropriate insurance coverage in place, as well as security measures to protect customer data. Once a company is certified, they are subject to annual audits to ensure they are maintaining the highest standards.
When a firm breaks the compliance procedures, the Certification Review Board provides remedial education. Repeated offences and egregious infractions, on the other hand, result in termination.
Conclusion
Businesses need to be proactive in protecting their data, and one of the best ways to do this is to use a NAID certified member for secure destruction services. Certified members are required to follow strict guidelines for information destruction, and they are subject to annual audits to ensure they are maintaining the highest standards.
Data breaches can have devastating consequences for businesses, so it is important to choose a provider you can trust to properly destroy your sensitive data. A NAID certified member is a good choice for secure destruction services, and they can provide you with peace of mind knowing that your data will be destroyed in a safe and compliant manner.
FAQ
NAID is a certification program that audits and certifies shredding companies to verify they are following best practices for information destruction.
NAID certification covers both on-site and off-site destruction operations, paper documents, as well as hard drives and disks.
To become NAID certified, companies must pass a rigorous audit of their processes and procedures. The audit covers everything from employee screening and training to the destruction process itself.
Certified members are required to follow strict guidelines for information destruction, and they are subject to annual audits to ensure they are maintaining the highest standards. This provides businesses with peace of mind knowing that their data will be destroyed in a safe and compliant manner.